As consumer behavior has changed significantly since the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation is having a momentous impact on drug and dollar store channels, experts note.

Speakeasy Co., San Diego, an eCommerce platform for alcohol brands, has received funding for its third seed round, with $6.8 million raised. The funding was led by InvestBev, an investment firm in the industry, with a portfolio including Siempre Tequila and Fyllo.

7-Eleven Inc., Irving, Texas, announced the newest addition to the Slurpee drink lineup: Vitaminwater Zero Sugar LOOK Slurpee. A blend of blueberry and hibiscus flavors, this sugar-free frozen drink is available now at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes stores for a limited-time only.

A new beverage-top printer was recently released by Ripples. The Ripple Maker II Pro features food technology with naturally changing print colors that quench rising consumer demand for novel drink experiences, the company says.

Boisson, New York, announced its availability on beverage alcohol eCommerce shop Drizly to deliver elevated non-alcohol (NA) beverages to consumers throughout the nation, it says. Through this collaboration, consumers across the United States now can shop Boisson’s wide range of NA beverages on the Drizly app or web experience.

In a recent supermarkets and grocery stores report from IBISWorld, the company suspects that, during the next five years to 2027, supermarkets will experience continued competition from online operators.

Chicago-based Grubhub released its annual retrospective look at the biggest national ordering trends and eating habits of the year in a report called “2022 Delivered.” By analyzing millions of orders from diners this year, it shows that comfort inspired what consumers ate, revealing who they were in 2022, the company says.

With an array of convenience and competitive costs, consumers continue to be drawn to the eCommerce channel. 

Despite inflation, consumers are not frequenting mass or supercenter merchandisers, experts notes.

While other retailers are seeing inflation impact spending, it has not had the same effect on specialty retailers, experts note.